So if I’m being totally honest, the only real essentials for a newborn are diapers, a safe place to sleep and clothes to keep them warm. If you choose to bottle feed, then add bottles and formula and you’re good to go! However, there are so many products out there that can make life with a newborn easier. I’m a bit of a baby gear junkie.I bought everythinggg under the sun for my first baby (my son) not really knowing exactly what we’d need or what he would like. After having two newborns, I’ve really had a chance to pick my favorites. The products on my list are my absolute must-have, can’t live without items that I used with both my son and daughter. With that being said, this list is pretty extensive and you definitely do not need all of these items for your newborn. Will they make life with your newborn easier? Absolutely. Do you need every single item on this list? No way! I’ll list my TOP 5 to give you an idea of which products helped us out the most.
Also, I want to point out that, for the sake of aesthetics, most of the photos in the collage are for a baby girl, but there are boy options for most of the items on my list. My daughter has a lot of blue since many of the items are hand me downs from her brother. Pro tip- if you plan on having more kids always get the gender neutral color option! You’ll be so glad you did.
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MY TOP FIVE
- Owlet Smart Sock – This is the one item I didn’t use with my firstborn (son) and did with my second so I can appreciate the peace of mind that it brings. With my son (firstborn) I was constantly waking up all night long to see if he was breathing. I would wake up in a start, gently put my hand and his chest to feel the subtle rise and fall feeling, or stare at his face to see any movement. Then, I would try to go back to sleep before the next feeding with not much chance of a restful night. The anxiety was real! My daughter wears this sock every night and the peace of mind it brings is SOOO worth it. It will alert us if her oxygen or heart rate drops to a dangerous level. I also love that it tracks the quality of her sleep and how many night wakings she has.
- Dock A Tot – This is great for when you first bring them home. They are asleep for most of the day, so this serves as a cozy little place for them to hang while you can keep your eye on them.
- Baby Bjorn Chair – My kids both LOVED this chair. Once they are ready to “wake-up” and join in on the day to day- maybe around week 4… this chair is awesome!! It is super portable and lightweight. We put on in our kitchen table so Charlotte can eat dinner with us. In the bathroom while I get ready. In the laundry room while I do laundry. In the office if I need to shoot of an email for work or in the playroom if we want to play with Wyatt’s toys. The toy bar is definitely an add-on, but Charlie loves it! She coo’s and laughs at the googly-eyes. We joke that it’s her best friend! Added bonus: they can sit in it until they are 2! They cover flips backwards so the restraint is tucked up in the back.
- Baby Bjorn Carrier – This is definitely a must-have for me. Both of my kids love(d) being worn and was the only way they would nap away from home. If we wanted to do anything outside of our house during nap time, this was a necessity. Very easy to put on and get of, super comfy for the babes.
- Olllie Swaddle – I LOVE this thing. All other swaddles need not apply. Swaddling did not come easy for my husband or me. This is the quickest, easier, tightest swaddle that my kids felt super comfy in. It helped them sleep so well from birth to when the could roll over. It also lasted through both my kids so that speaks to the quality.
MORE NEWBORN ESSENTIALS
- Rohm sound machine – this might be tied for fifth. Definitely add this to your list. This thing has saved my life a few times. My kids NEED white noise to sleep, so this was a must-have if your little one needs to take a nap on the go in the carseat or stroller. This little machine keeps it’s charge all night (perfect for travel), gets loud enough, fits easily in the diaper bag and soothes my kiddos like no other!!
- Organic Muslin swaddle blankets – These are also a must-have. I keep one or two in my diaper bag, on the stroller, in the car, around the house, etc. You can use them as burp cloths, as a lightweight blanket when their little feeties are cold, as a sun shade in the stroller, as a blanket during a car ride, as a soft, clean spot for tummy time, a clean spot for diaper changes at the park – the list goes on!!
- Hatch noise machine – I keep this on my nightstand next to the glider. to use for night feedings. You can customize the sound and the brightness and control it with an app on your phone. You can keep it dim so that the baby doesn’t wake up too much and so that you don’t disturb the hubby with a bright overhead light when has has to wake up early for work or with your toddler.
- Uppa Baby Mesa car seat – We used this one with both our kids and love it! Fits in our stroller (We have the Uppa Baby Vista – which should probably also be on this list), is lightweight and comfortable for the babies. Also has a great safety rating and is easy to take in and out of the car.
- Car seat cover – In the age of covid- a total must have. Baby can’t wear a mask but this does the trick! Also great at blocking out light for naps on the go and doubles as a nursing cover if that’s your jam!
- Barefoot Dreams baby blanket, Barefoot Dreams hat, barefoot dreams socks – I mean, I love everything Barefoot Dreams has to offer and want my babies to be wrapped in the softest things possible! Charlotte wore the hat home from the hospital and still wears it on chilly nights in her basinet. She wears the socks daily and at night, too. These also make great baby gifts. Pro tip: grab yourself the big blanket for the hospital and the cozy cardigan to wear there and on your way home. It’s so cozy for you and baby to cuddle up with! I had mine at both my deliveries and it made me so much more comfortable. I even brought one for hubby! Don’t be afraid to add mama items to your registry, too!
- Barefoot Dreams lovie – I started both my kids off with a lovie right away for sleep training purposes. This is the softest and cutest one out there! I wear it in my bra for a night so it smells like mama. It really helps to soothe them!
- Newborn hospital bow hats – So cute for hospital photos and good to have extras when the barefoot dreams one is in the wash.
- Organic cotton onesies – My favorite onesies!! The softest ones out there! I prefer onesies with zips because who wants to try to use snaps in the middle of the night?
- Burp cloth – Any one will do but this one is just so cute!
- Wipes warmer – probably not essential, but definitely nice to have especially if you have a winter baby or baby sensitive to the cold.
- My favorite bows – Super soft, easy to wash, great neutral colors and most importantly, not too tight!
- Baby Aquaphor – I use this on everything from diaper rash to little cuts from their tiny fingernails! Even great for my chapped lips.
- Boppy pillow – I took this to the hospital with me when I had both of my kids. Very nice to have (especially with a c-section delivery) because it helps you lift up the babe and takes pressure off of your incision site.
- Blackout shade – Both of my kids need it quiet and dark to sleep so we put these up in both of their nurseries. It folds up really small so it’s easy to pack.
- Bibs pacifiers – My kids favorites and the only one Wyatt will take. They are made from rubber so they are the closest to an actual nipple I’ve found. They’re also the cutest out there in my opinion and come in dreamy, neutral colors.
- Hatch baby scale – I had a hard time nursing Wyatt when he was first born so this scale helped me figure out if he was getting enough milk and gaining weight properly. It connects to an app on your phone and doubles as a changing table! Super easy to use and I love knowing that they are on track with weight gain in the very beginning in-between doctors visits.
- Oogiebear nose and ear cleaner –– My kids HATED the syringe bulbs you get from the hospital. They got so scared when we tried to suck their little boogies out. And how on earth do you even clean those things!? This thing saved us! It’s kinda gross but you’ll thank me later! Also helpful for cleaning out their little ears because q-tips aren’t safe and they have a lot of earwax for some reason.
I want to add that I truly used and loved (or am still using and loving!) everything on this list! All of the items are available on Amazon Prime (a new mom’s best friend) so you can add them to your baby registry. Whether you are working on your baby registry or stocking up for your new baby, I hope this list is helpful! Let me know in the comments what your essentials are! Good luck with your sweet babes!
XO, Kelsey
